Dr. Mehmet Oz said a high-protein diet accelerates weight loss, and prevents diabetes and heart disease on the March 12 episode of the Dr. Oz Show ("Are High Protein Diets a Good or Bad Thing?").

"One in three of you are not getting enough protein," said Dr. Oz. "It's the single best thing to fight disease and lose weight fast. It'll jump-start your metabolism, and you'll actually lose more weight with the calories from protein."

Dr. Oz slammed a new report claiming a high-protein diet is as bad as chain-smoking for causing early death, heart disease, and cancer.

If anything, Dr. Oz said consuming high-quality animal protein such as grass-fed beef, poultry, wild fish, and pastured eggs is good for you. He said a 20-year study confirmed that a high-protein diet reduces heart disease and diabetes, especially for people in their 30s and 40s.

Dr. Oz suggested eating five to six servings of protein each day, and said each meal should always contain protein (whether from animal sources, nuts or plants). He said a serving size is about the size of your palm.

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Samantha Chang is the executive editor and co-owner of www.theimproper.com., an arts and entertainment website in New York City. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Samantha enjoys running, cycling and taking photos. Contact her at schang@theImproper.com.